Engineer Umesh Bahadur Malla, IMPECCABLE CREDENTIALS

He wishes to be in the National Planning Commission now.  “I think I could accomplish a lot of important work.”  Even a cursory glance at his resume will confirm that his aspiration is not one that should be taken lightly by the powers that be – not if the country is serious about exploiting available specialized manpower towards renewed developmental efforts. Engineer Umesh Bahadur Malla was born in 1943, lives today in Ganabahal, Kathmandu, and is currently the president of RUPSON (Regional and Urban Planners Society of Nepal). His education includes graduation from Edinburgh University with M. Phil in Urban Design and Regional Planning (1973-1976), and earlier, B.Sc from Tribhuvan University (1957-1961) and B.E. (Civil Engineering) from IIT Roorkee (1961-1964). From 1983 to 1984, he spent a full academic year as a Humphrey/Spurs Fellow at MIT Cambridge (USA), specializing in Housing and Urban Planning.

His professional journey has been an interesting one. Before retiring from government service in August 2000, Malla has held such positions of high responsibility as Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning & Works (1998-2000) and Director General of Department of Housing & Urban Development (1996-1997).  From 1992 to 1995, Malla was the Joint Secretary at the Human Settlements & Environment Division of His Majesty’s Government. It was during this time that Engineer Malla coordinated the preparation of ‘National Plan of Action – Nepal’ and ‘Best Practices – Nepal’ for presentation at the City Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. These were subsequently incorporated in the 9^th Plan.  

Besides these, Malla has been a responsible member of many important committees involved in urban environment management programs, including one as chairman of the steering committee constituted for execution and coordination of “‘Metropolitan Environment Improvement Program’ in Kathmandu Valley” – a HMG/World Bank project (1993-1995). Engineer Malla has also been chairman of the Building Code Advisory Panel, a National Building Code Development Project. In the period 1988 to 1991, he held the responsibility of Deputy Director General of HMG’s Urban Development Division during which time he was associated with preparing the Structure Plan and Infrastructure Assessment Reports for 29 towns all over the country. Earlier, from 1976 to 1987, Malla held the post of Senior Planner / Section Chief of the Physical Planning Section at the Department of Housing, Building & Physical Planning, Ministry of Works & Transport. During this time he prepared and implemented the Development Plan for Silgadhi / Dipayal, the growth centre of the Far Western Region.

The above portfolio should be more than enough to declare Engineer Malla’s credentials as being impeccable in the field of regional planning and development. But his impressive professional saga does not end here. He has accumulated a wealth of hands on experience as well. From 1969 to 1973 he worked as a Senior Engineer in the Building Design Section and from 1964 to 1968, as an Assistant Engineer in the Building Department. During this time, Malla was the Project Director for the Padma Kanya College Complex (girls hostel) project.  Along the way, Engineer Malla has also actively offered his contractual services as a top notch consultant. In 1980, he was the Project Director of the ‘Kailali Resettlement Project Plan Study’– a plan to resettle 3500 families. The same year he was designated the Urban Planner in the CEDA Study Team to undertake the ‘Kathmandu Valley Town Planning and Its Impacts’. In 1985, he was the Planner and Infrastructure Analyst for the ‘Rapti Zone Regional Assessment Study’. In 1998, as National Consultant  for the ‘Healthy Cities Program’ Malla prepared a report called ‘Developing Healthy Cities – Agenda for Banepa: A Situational Analysis’

The above is not by any chance, a summary of the experienced engineer’s professional life, but rather, just a few of his many accomplishments which would, in any case, take too much space to recapitulate here. However, the underlying message is clear – Engineer Umesh Bahadur Malla is one of the most eminently qualified professionals in the country today to undertake responsibilities concerning planning and development works. Undoubtedly, his experience is vast and his range of activities, though specialized, has encompassed wide territory. In addition, in his many capacities, and more so as National Coordinator and Member Secretary (Focal Point) of Nepal National Committee for HABITAT II Conference from 1993 to 1996, Malla has had ample opportunities to acquire significant global exposure.

Presently, he is engaged in consultancy activities as a director of TEAM Nepal (P) Ltd., a consulting firm involved in the fields of urban and regional planning, urban governance, housing, building and tourism development. He is an executive member of Shelter & Local Technology Development Centre – a NGO dedicated to promoting low cost, environment friendly building techniques in the country. This year, he also completed a three year  tenure as board member of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Board. Malla is a founder member of the Society of Civil Engineers – Nepal and the Regional & Urban Planners Society of Nepal (RUPSON) of which he is the current president as well.

Engineer Malla’s thesis presentation while doing his PhD was titled, ‘A Study of Some Design Considerations in Planning for City Regions’. Thick by any standards, and it can be assumed, valuable educative material, one would think that it could be useful and informative for aspiring students, but the chances are slim because, as the noted scholar says, “Keeping it in a library would be inviting trouble – who can guarantee that it won’t be lost or damaged?’ One can only hope that, what with students and professionals constantly carping about documentation shortfalls in the country, more initiative is taken to ensure material like Malla’s thesis  are made available in concerned  libraries at least  in the form of copies.

Malla believes that the 1969 Kathmandu Valley Plan prepared by Dr. Karl Pruscha and Kathmandu Valley Development Program was an excellent one and in fact, could still be quite relevant to present day needs, albeit with some modifications. But all said and done, Malla, habituated no doubt by long years in the bureaucracy, still is not so open and forthright about his views on why in spite of plans being excellent, not much seems to have happened as planned. “Most of the lapses can be blamed on institutional failure,” he opines. Habits die hard, and so one expect that Malla will be reluctant to blame individuals or even particular groups or organizations for failing to implement well thought out and essential programs. Diplomacy is after all a vital cultivated quality for a top bureaucrat who has had to deal with local politicians, government officials and technicians as well as with many donor agencies, throughout his life. So, when asked his opinion on why the Capital is faced with such a host of problems even after the making of excellent plans, he says, “I agree that not much has been done as planned,  but it is essentially a case of bad management by planners that is responsible for the Valley’s disintegration.” He also lays the blame for the state of things on political instability after 1995. “Enlightened leadership in all sectors is the need of the hour,” he declares, and adds, “Local bodies’ involvement is essential for implementation of programs. Municipalities have been invested with lots of power but they lag behind in capacity building. In addition, there is lack of visionary, enlightened leadership.”

Talking more about the Valley and its associated problems, Engineer Malla says, “Environmentally, I feel we are heading for a disaster. According to IUCN - who have presented a paper called, ‘Regulating of Growth in Kathmandu’ - at the rate the population is growing in the Valley, very soon, the whole Valley, including the VDCs, will be one giant urban sprawl.” According to Malla, the Kathmandu Nagar Vikas Samiti had recommended that of the 66000 hectares of the Kathmandu Valley, only 40% should be built up area while the rest 60% should be left alone. “Various studies have also concluded that the optimum population of the Valley should be limited to 45 lakhs,” informs the engineer. “However, because of its large migratory population, no one can say for sure as to exactly where we are today regarding the issue.” Umesh Malla propounds the development of satellite towns around the Capital and says, “Places like Nagarkot, Sankhu, Pharping, Chapagaon, etc…are some places that could be developed into satellite towns. And among these, Pharping is one of the best locations because of its rolling hills which makes it easier for settlements to expand. Besides, it is linked with Kulekhani by road.”

As far as the Outer Ring Road Project is concerned Malla believes that it is not needed on the north side where in fact it could have regressive effects on the water recharged zones available there. “However, this road will be effective in linking the Arniko and Tribhuvan Highways on the south side.” While on the topic, the engineer laments, “We still have not done an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Outer Ring Road Project.” On a wider scale, the planner is firm in his view that a conceptual framework needs to be done for the whole valley and this should include the concept of VDCs being integrated into existing municipalities. As he says, “The VDCs around the Capital are actually almost urbanized now and in fact, they are growing at a much faster pace than municipalities but because of the lack of relevant laws, the growth is haphazard. Later, this could contribute to the making of a giant urban sprawl. Another point to note is that one cannot expect local leadership in VDCs to be upto the required calibre as far as awareness and ability are concerned.”

He adds, “Of course, urbanization should be taken as a positive development but if not planned for well, could have unfortunate consequences later.” As for planned development of other towns besides Kathmandu, Malla is not too optimistic about the current scenario. “Imagine, the Biratnagar Municipality does not have a single architect or an urban planner in its employment although it is the second largest town in the country with a population of about 2 lakhs.” Perhaps this, more than anything else, vindicates his opinion about the lack of enlightened leaders. Malla also thinks that the current state of affairs in which two ministries, the Ministry of Physical Planning & Works, along with the Ministry of Local Development, are both involved in urban development planning, is not a good one. “It should be under only one ministry,” he says. Well, considering the fact that it is hard enough getting through the red tape in one ministry, one can well understand Malla’s point. Another point he raises is about the need to give more authority to the Nagar Vikash Samiti in areas such as planning and licenses. His logic is, “Because of the municipalities’ less than capable abilities in present times, the Nagar Vikash Samiti has to play a more active role. This can, in fact, be something that will be very supportive of municipalities’ own efforts.”

Malla’s statements clearly are a result of his rich academic background and wide experience which combine to give him a much deeper understanding of issues pertaining to his particular areas of specialization. Malla knows that he excels in his line of work and so it is not without reason that he desires to play a bigger role in nation building. He certainly must derive some satisfaction from knowing his own abilities and the potential for doing more in his professional capacity. But it is not only his professional achievements that gives him satisfaction. In his personal life too, he is a happy man. His father is the respected writer, Govind Bahadur Malla, known fondly as ‘Gothale’ in literary circles.  Eighty-five now, ‘Gothale’ is an honorary member of the Nepal Academy. Umesh Malla’s wife, Sarala, is one of the most experienced teachers in Kanti Ishwari School while his eldest child, a daughter, Upama, is in the USA on a Fulbright Scholarship doing her Masters at Washington University. One son, Sarbesh, has completed his studies in Electric and Electronics from Istanbul while another son, Pritesh, is studying accountancy in the United Kingdom.

At age 63, Engineer Umesh Malla is still fine as a fiddle and as sharp as in his heydays. Most definitely, he holds impressive credentials and an untainted record of professional service. The country can expect much from him and in fact, the opportunity to utilize his expertise should not be ignored by the state. Umesh Bahadur Malla is ready and willing and even while he talks about bigger things like nation building, he is still mindful of smaller, but equally important matters regarding his profession. Matters such as the well known engineer, Shanker Nath Rimal, being given an honorary membership of the Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA). As he says, “Although an engineer, Shanker Nath has contributed much to architecture and should therefore be recognized for the same.”